Method of hot-rolling metal sheets in packs.



Nu.`699,|3|. lawmw` may s, |902.

T. V. ALLIS. METHD 0F HOTA ROLLING METAL SHEETS IIN PACKS. (Applicationmed M531, V1901.)

(No Model., 2 SheeTs-Sheei l.

@VH1/momo No. 699,|3| Patented May 6, |902.

T. V. ALLIS. l

METHOD 0F HOT RULLING METAL SHEETS IN PACKS.

(Application med Aug. s1, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Shui 2,

UNITEDz STATES i PATENT FFICE.

THOMAS V. ALLIS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

METHOD OF HOT-ROLLING METAL SHEETS IN PACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,131, dated May 6,1902.

Application filed August 31, 1901. Serial No. 74,024. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS V. ALLIS, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in theMethod of Hot- Rolling Metal Sheets in Packs, of which the following isa specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawings.

'lhis invention consists i-n an improved method of hot-rolling metalplates in packs of original construction to sheets ofcommercially-accurate gages in packs by first passing the packs througha series of pairs (two or more) of reducing-rolls arranged in tandem andadj usted to effect a progressive vreduction of the plates composingsaid packs, and, second, in passing said packs through a pair ofauxiliary rolls located either adjacent to said series of sets of rollsor in tandem arrangement therewith a sufficient number of times tocomplete the reduction-gage or to correct any defective rolling by anypair of said series of rolls, all as hereinafter fully described and asset forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawingslhave shown diagrammatically the essentialparts of a machine necessary to a full understanding of the' inventionand by which the methods claimed may be carried out in practice.

Figure 1 represents in plan the furnace and continuous train ofreducing-rolls, together with the adjacent auxiliary rolls; and Fig. 2,a furnace and a less number of pairs of reducingrolls with the auxiliaryrolls arranged relatively in tandem.

When metal is hot-rolled in packs,the thickness of the component sheetscannot be measured, and the only way to determine whether they have beenreduced to the required gage is by the amount of elongation produced inrolling. To determine this, the elongated packs are measured afterleaving any set of rolls in the train last passed through, which mayconstitute the finishing pair, and when a pack emerges therefrom andris-found to be too short to produce' the required thickness' with thecontinuous operation of the continuous train. For this purpose theseauxiliary rolls may be located to one side of the continuous train ofrolls, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It is to be understood thatin the operation of the continuous train of rolls that a pack is freefrom one pair of reducingrolls of the lseries before it enters anotherpair, and that the last pair of rolls in the tandem4 train mayconstitute the finishing pair, assho'wn, for example, in Fig. l.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings only two sets or pairs of rolls are shown asthe continuous train of rolls, with the auxiliary rolls in tantemtherewith, the pack being manipulated independently in the auxiliaryrolls.

In the arrangement of rolls shown in Fig. l the operation is as follows:1 represents an ordinary furnace having the throat 2, through which themetal passes to the first set of rolls 3, where the first reduction ismade, thence to the second set of rolls 4, and so on progressivelythrough all the sets of rolls 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, if required, each setelongating the metal packs, and consequently reducing the thickness ofeach plate therein until the final Vitspassage through the train ofrolls, (care being taken that none of the packs shall be 4too lon g,) itis then transferred to the auxiliary rolls 10, where it is rolledindependently to theproper length, and consequently to the requiredthickness, of its component sheets and without interfering with thecontinuous output of the continuous train. The operative in charge ofthese auxiliary rolls, knowing the gage required, will adjust said rollsaccordingly. Without these auxiliary rolls it will readily be seen thatwhenever a pack is found to be too short and the sheets composing thesame consequently too thick the output of the continuous train would'yhave' to cease, while the delivery or end pair of'rolls arefreadjustedand occupiedin completing this insufficiently-rolled pack; IItisthereforeapparent that with the use of the auxiliary rolls the output ofsaid continuous mill is in no way interrupted, which means that thecontinuous train and the furnace are operated to their full maximumcapacity. If so desired, the auxiliary rolls l0 may also be placed inthe same axial line with the rolls 9, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. l,and coupled thereto to be driven from the same power that drives thecontinuous train.

In case a pack becomes in any way distorted while passing through acontinuous rollingmill it would be impossible for it to proceed. Withthe present invention a damaged pack can at once be removed from thecontinuous train and corrected and finished in the auxiliary rolls.

In a continuous rolling-mill each pair of rolls in the train is set tobear a proportionate share of the total reduction. Therefore if a changeis made in one set a corresponding change must necessarily be made inall. When, therefore, the rolls are all properly adjusted to turn out acertain finished product, it would not be economical to make a change toroll small orders of other gages. With the present invention packs maybe taken from the train at any convenient point and finished in theauxiliary rolls without curtailing the output of the continuous mill,thus enhancing the value of a mill of this type for rolling assortedorders of sheets in packs of various sizes at a lower cost of productionthan hitherto accomplished.

1l, l2, I3, 14, l5, and 16 are guides located between the continuoustrain of rolls for transferring the packs in their passage to andthrough said train of rolls.

It is obvious that in the practice of this invention with a less numberof pairs of reducing-rolls in the continuous train, as shown, forexample, in Fig. 2, a partial reduction may be effected by passing thepacks therethrough and then subjecting them to further reduction andfinishing by the single pair of auxiliary rolls, the latter operationbeing performed by passing and repassing, usually by hand manipulation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described continuous method of hot-rolling metal plates inpacks to sheets of commercially-accurate gages, which consists in firstpartially reducing the original packs in a tandem mill, and secondpassing said packs directly from said mill through a single pair ofauxiliary rolls a suliicient number of times to complete the reduction,as set forth.

2. The herein-described method of hot-rolling metal plates in packs tosheets of commercially-accurate gages, which consists in partiallyreducing the packs in a tandem mill, removing therefrom such packs ashave been damaged or sufficiently rolled when intermediate of any twopairs of rolls in said mill, and passing the same through a single pairof auxiliary rolls a suicient number of times to complete the reductionwhereby a finished product of any desired gage is produced withoutinterfering with the continuous operation of the mill, as set forth.

3. The herein-described method of hot-rolling metal plates in packs tosheets of commercially-accurate gages, which consists in, first,effecting a partial reduction in a tandem mill, and, second, passingsaid packs through a single pair of auxiliary rolls a su lficient numberof times to complete the reduction and at a single heat, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS V. ALLIS.

Vitnesses:

CHAs. W. FORBES, CHARLES HANIMANN.

